---
title: "CFTC Approves Equity Perpetual Futures for US Trading on Dually Registered Exchanges"
description: "Chairman Michael S. Selig announced that perpetual contracts on single stocks may now trade on venues shared by the CFTC and SEC."
url: https://basisdesk.news/news/cftc-authorizes-equity-perpetual-futures-us-exchanges
published: 2026-11-03T14:23:08.489Z
modified: 2026-11-03T14:23:08.489Z
section: Regulation & Policy
author: Basis Desk Newsroom (AI-generated, source-verified)
sentiment: bullish
tickers: [BTC, ETH, USDT]
tags: [cftc, sec, perpetual-futures, derivatives, equities, market-structure]
license: Quote with attribution to Basis Desk (basisdesk.news). Not financial advice.
---

# CFTC Approves Equity Perpetual Futures for US Trading on Dually Registered Exchanges

Chairman Michael S. Selig announced that perpetual contracts on single stocks may now trade on venues shared by the CFTC and SEC.

## At a glance

- **What happened:** CFTC Chairman Michael S. Selig announced on Nov. 3, 2026, that single-stock perpetual futures can begin trading on dually registered CFTC-SEC exchanges.
- **Why it matters:** The decision establishes a regulated domestic venue framework for perpetual futures contracts, ending prolonged jurisdictional disputes between the CFTC and SEC.
- **Who is affected:** CFTC-designated contract markets, SEC notice-registered national securities exchanges, and US derivatives traders.
- **Takes effect:** 2026-11-03
- **What's next:** Exchange listings of individual equity perpetual futures products under the dual regulatory structure.
- **Status:** guidance
- **Primary source:** [CFTC Chairman Selig Releases Statement on Equity Perpetual Futures](https://www.cftc.gov/PressRoom/PressReleases/9319-26) — CFTC Press Releases

## Key points

- Perpetual futures on individual equity securities are authorized to trade on CFTC-regulated designated contract markets dually registered with the SEC.
- The products are structured under the Commodity Futures Modernization Act of 2000 and a CFTC-SEC Memorandum of Understanding.
- CFTC Chairman Michael S. Selig cited interagency cooperation with SEC Chairman Paul S. Atkins to end jurisdictional stalemates on novel derivatives.

## Editorial remark

- **Context:** Perpetual futures originated on offshore crypto venues and have historically lacked a clear domestic regulatory framework for equity underlyings due to split jurisdiction between the CFTC and the SEC under the Commodity Futures Modernization Act.
- **Impact:** CFTC-designated contract markets dually registered as notice-registered national securities exchanges with the SEC can now offer equity perpetual contracts to US traders under domestic oversight.
- **Watch:** Submissions and listings of individual equity perpetual contracts from eligible dually registered contract markets.

Perpetual futures contracts on individual equity securities can begin trading on US-regulated exchanges for the first time, Commodity Futures Trading Commission Chairman Michael S. Selig announced on Nov. 3, 2026 [1].

The authorization applies specifically to designated contract markets that maintain dual registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission as notice-registered national securities exchanges permitted to list security futures products [1]. Chairman Selig noted that the deployment of single-stock perpetual futures offers domestic traders tools for risk management and price discovery inside federal regulatory guardrails, reducing reliance on unregulated foreign platforms [1].

## Interagency Coordination

The initiative relies structurally on the Commodity Futures Modernization Act of 2000 and an interagency memorandum of understanding between the CFTC and SEC [1]. Selig cited SEC Chairman Paul S. Atkins' characterization of prior regulatory ambiguity as a "no man's land" created by jurisdictional friction between the twin market regulators [1]. Selig stated that both agencies are now coordinating to provide formal listing paths for novel instruments rather than letting product rollouts stall during interagency disputes [1].

The policy shift follows sustained industry interest in bridging decentralized trading mechanisms with established exchange architecture, as seen in efforts such as [ICE's backing of Trade.xyz to launch Hyperliquid perpetual contracts in the US](https://basisdesk.news/news/ice-trade-xyz-hyperliquid-us-perpetual-futures). Selig had earlier addressed jurisdictional and infrastructure friction during an address detailing [market structure gaps in crypto derivatives](https://basisdesk.news/news/cftc-selig-fordham-blockchain-speech-market-structure). At the time of writing, the broader digital asset market was trading under subdued conditions, with Bitcoin priced at $77,109 and crypto market sentiment registering a Fear & Greed index reading of 26.

## FAQ

**Which venues can offer equity perpetual futures in the US?**

Designated contract markets registered with the CFTC that are also notice-registered with the SEC as national securities exchanges to trade security futures products.

**What legal foundation underpins this product framework?**

The structure relies on the Commodity Futures Modernization Act of 2000 alongside a CFTC-SEC Memorandum of Understanding.

## Sources

1. [CFTC Chairman Selig Releases Statement on Equity Perpetual Futures](https://www.cftc.gov/PressRoom/PressReleases/9319-26) — CFTC Press Releases, 2026-11-03

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Basis Desk Newsroom · AI-generated, source-verified · https://basisdesk.news/about/how-we-use-ai
